Transaction card package assembly having enhanced security

ABSTRACT

A transaction card package assembly comprising a transaction card connected to a first panel via a releasable interface, wherein the first panel is affixed to a second panel such that upon releasing the interface, the first panel remains affixed to the second panel and the transaction card is released from the package assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation Application claiming priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/380,888 filed Apr. 28, 2006, published as U.S.Patent Application Publication No. US 2007/0252009, and entitled“Transaction Card Package Assembly Having Enhanced Security.” Thisapplication is also related to commonly owned U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/380,881, filed Apr. 28, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,607,575,and entitled “Transaction Card Package Assembly Having EnhancedSecurity.” Each of the above patent and patent application is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to package assemblies fortransaction cards such as gift cards, debit cards, credit cards, and thelike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The market for transaction cards such a merchant gift cards continues togrow. Such cards may be subject to fraud, for example by a thiefremoving a valid gift card from a card holder that is used to activatethe card, and inserting a fraudulent gift card in the holder. Thisactivity, sometimes referred to a swapping, results in activation of thevalid card held by the thief and non-activation of the fraudulent cardheld by the unsuspecting consumer. As a result, an ongoing need existsfor improved transaction card package assemblies, which is addressed bythe present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A transaction card package assembly comprising a transaction cardconnected to a first panel via a releasable interface, wherein the firstpanel is affixed to a second panel such that upon releasing theinterface, the first panel remains affixed to the second panel and thetransaction card is released from the package assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-8A are front views and FIGS. 1B-8B are back views of variousembodiments of transaction card package assemblies according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 1C is a back view of a separated embodiment of a transaction cardpackage assembly.

FIG. 1D is a close-up view of an embodiment of a mismatched securitycode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, transaction card refers to a card that may be used totransact business with a party willing to accept the card, for exampleas tender for a purchase. Examples of such cards include credit cards,debit cards, gift cards, telephone cards, loyalty cards, membershipcards, ticket cards, entertainment cards, sports cards, prepaid cards,and the like. Typically, such cards are wallet-sized and made ofplastic. In various embodiments, the transaction card may be a type ofcard such as a gift or prepaid card that requires activation at a pointof sale. For example, a transaction card may be purchased and activatedat a point of sale by a consumer and subsequently used by the consumeror another (e.g., the recipient of the card as a gift) to transactbusiness.

Purchase of a transaction card may involve a card vendor, a redeemingmerchant, and a card issuer. In various embodiments, the card vendor,redeeming merchant and card issuer may be the same, different, orrelated entities. The point of sale where the card is purchased andactivated is referred to herein as the card vendor or simply vendor. Anentity that will accept the card for business transactions, for exampleas tender for a purchase, is referred to as a redeeming merchant. Anentity that provides the financial backing and/or payment processingaccessed via the transaction card is referred to as the card issuer orsimply issuer. Typically, the issuer is identified on the transactioncard and associates a unique issuer account code with each transactioncard. Card issuers include direct issuers of cards such as store-brandedcards, and in some embodiments the card vendor may also be the cardissuer and/or the redeeming merchant. Card issuers also include banks,financial institutions, and transaction processors such as VISA,Mastercard, American Express, etc., and cards issued by suchinstitutions may be readily accepted by a number of redeeming merchantsto conduct transactions such as purchases. In some instances, theredeeming merchant may be identified on the transaction card (forexample, a retailer branded card such as Store X), and such cards may besold at the same or different card vendor (e.g., card vendor is Store Xor a different or unrelated Store Z). In such instances, the Store Xbranded transaction card may be issued by Store X, by Store Z, or by athird party such as bank or financial institution.

In an embodiment, a transaction card package assembly comprises atransaction card attached/coupled to or disposed/held within a cardholder. The transaction card package assembly further comprises asecurity code spanning the transaction card and the card holder suchthat upon removal of the transaction card from the holder, the securitycode is broken and a portion of the security code is present on thetransaction card and a portion of the security code is present on thecard holder. The security code may be integral with and form a part ofthe transaction card and card holder, for example formed concurrentlyduring molding and/or printing of the transaction card and/or the cardholder. Alternatively, the security code may be external to thetransaction card and card holder, for example printed and/or applied viaa sticker or other external layer applied/adhered to the transactioncard and card holder.

Upon removal of the transaction card from the card holder, the securitycode is broken and a portion of the security code remains on thetransaction card and a portion of the security code remains on the cardholder. The broken portions of the security code are configured suchthat they may not be readily removed from their respective substrate andapplied to another substrate, and in particular without damaging ordestroying the security code portion and/or the substrate. For example,where the security code is integral with the transaction card and cardholder, e.g., printed and/or embossed in a manner that spans each, suchprinting and/or embossing may be difficult or nearly impossible toremove from the transaction card and/or card holder and place on asubstitute transaction card and/or card holder, respectively. As anotherexample, where the security code is printed on a sticker or other layerthat spans the transaction card and the card holder, the sticker orother layer should be sufficiently adhered, affixed, or otherwiseconfigured (for example, with serrations, such that the portions of thesticker or other layer remaining on the transaction card and/or cardholder would be difficult or nearly impossible to remove intact andplace on a substitute transaction card and/or card holder, respectively.

Given that each security code is unique, portions of security codes fromdifferent transaction cards and card holders will not match, and thuswill be readily identifiable, for example by visible and/or tactileinspection, by a merchant or consumer as an indicator of possibletampering or fraudulent activity. For example, in the event that a firsttransaction card is removed from a first card holder (thereby breaking afirst security code with portions thereof remaining on the firsttransaction card and first card holder) and a second transaction card isremoved from a second card holder (thereby breaking a second securitycode with portions thereof remaining on the second transaction card andsecond card holder), the portions of the first and second security codesdo not match when the first transaction card is placed in the secondcard holder or vice-versa.

The security code is unique to each transaction card package assembly,and the uniqueness of the security code provides a means to detectpotentially fraudulent activity and/or to disable a package assemblysubject to fraudulent activity. The security code may comprise a seriesof letters, numerals, characters, or combinations thereof. Such letters,numerals, characters, and combinations thereof may be readily found inany number of font sets. The security code may be randomly generated,and preferably contains a sufficient number of letters, numerals,characters, or combinations thereof to avoid an accidental duplicationof the security code during manufacture of the transaction card packageassembly. For example, the security code may include greater than 4, 6,8, 10, 12, 14, etc. letters, numbers, characters, or combinationsthereof, with a larger number being preferred. Alternatively or inaddition to letters, numbers, and characters, the security code maycomprise symbols, pictures, designs, graphics, or combinations thereof.In an embodiment, the security code is printed and/or embossed across aportion of the transaction card and card holder, for example across aninterface such as a score or break line between the two.

In an embodiment, the security code is positioned such that alongitudinal center axis of the security code is in registration withthe interface between the transaction card and the card holder, whereinupon breaking of the security code, a first longitudinal portion or halfof the security code remains with the transaction card and a secondlongitudinal portion or half of the security code remains with the cardholder. The interface between the transaction card and the card holdermay be configured such that the transaction card disengages/releasesfrom the card holder along the interface. In some embodiments, aretaining means may define the interface between the security code andthe card holder. Non-limiting examples of retaining means include anadhesive, for example a contact adhesive such as rubberized glue orcement; hook and loop fastener; clips; rivets; snap and breakconnections; perforations; cut-outs, inserts, and/or pockets; orcombinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the interface between the transaction card and thecard holder may be a fault, break, score, or perforation line in a snapand break connection. For example, the transaction card and card holdermay be molded from plastic with a score line defining the interface,whereby the transaction card may be removed from the card holder byfolding the card along the score line wherein the plastic card snaps andbreaks free from the plastic holder. In an alternative embodiment, theinterface comprises a perforated line in a fold and tear connection. Forexample, the transaction card and the card holder may be printed on asheet of rigid paper such as cardboard with a perforated line definingthe interface, whereby the transaction card may be removed from the cardholder by folding the card along the perforated line and tearing thecard from the holder.

In certain embodiments, the security code may also serve a secondary ordual purpose, such as encoding information useful for purchase and/oractivation of the transaction card. For example, the dual purposesecurity code may comprise a unique bar code that may be scanned at apoint of sale terminal to purchase and/or activate the transaction card.An example of such a unique bar code is an EAN/UCC-128 bar code,containing both a vendor product identification portion and an issueraccount portion. The EAN/UCC-128 bar code may be used to activate thecard via a one-step process.

In a one-step activation sequence, the one step comprises simultaneouslyentering the combination vendor product identification and issueraccount code at a point of sale terminal. The one-step process onlyrequires a single entry by a clerk operating the point of sale terminalto activate the transaction card. For example, the one step may beperformed at the point of sale terminal by scanning a bar code, forexample an EAN/UCC-128 bar code, containing both a vendor productidentification portion and an issuer account portion. The vendor productidentification portion may be used to perform a look-up to determineproduct identity and price. The issuer account portion may be used toactivate the particular account associated with the transaction cardsuch that the card may be used to transact business with the issuer ofthe card. Upon being entered at the point of sale terminal, the issueraccount code may be conveyed (for example, via a computer network) tothe issuer or other third party processor responsible for looking up theaccount code (for example, via a database reconciliation) and activatingsame.

By breaking the dual purpose security code, the bar code is likewisebroken, and thus is disabled and can not be used to purchase and/oractivate the transaction card unless both portions are present andmatch. An attempt to fraudulently swap transaction cards in a holderfails because the portions of the unique bar code do not match, and thusmay not be scanned. Furthermore, a mismatched security code provides avisual and/or tactile indication of possible tampering or fraudulentactivity.

A first embodiment of a transaction card package assembly 20 is shown inthe front view of FIG. 1A and the back view of FIG. 1B. The transactioncard package assembly 20 comprises a card 10 releasably attached by aretaining means 15 to a card holder, for example a panel 22 such as aplastic or cardboard panel. Other types of card holders may be used suchas envelopes; folding cards with cut-outs, inserts, and/or pockets;clips; hangers; etc. Non-limiting examples of retaining means 15 includean adhesive, for example a contact adhesive such as rubberized glue orcement; hook and loop fastener; clips; rivets; snap and breakconnections (as shown); perforations; cut-outs, inserts, and/or pockets;or combinations thereof. The card 10 further comprises a magnetic stripe32 on the back thereof.

The retaining means 15 may define an interface 17, for example a scoreor break line in a snap and break connection (as shown), between thetransaction card 10 and the card holder 22. As shown in FIG. 1B, asecurity code, for example an EAN/UCC-128 bar code 30, may span theinterface 17 between the transaction card 10 and the card holder 22.Further as shown in FIG. 1B, security code 10 may be positioned suchthat the interface 17 is registered to a longitudinal center axis of thebar code 30, as is shown by line 19 running horizontally through barcode 30. It should be understood that line 19 represents a score line orindentation in the card/holder substrate (e.g., plastic), and does notinterfere with the scanning of bar code 30 prior to breakage of theretaining means 15 at the interface 17. The EAN/UCC-128 bar code may bebroken along a substantially horizontal axis running across about themiddle of the bar code or alternatively may be broken along non-centeredaxis such as through a numerical portion below the vertical bar portionof the code.

As shown in FIG. 1C, upon breakage and separation of the transactioncard 10 from the card holder 22 as represented by arrow 21, a portion 23of the security code (e.g., bar code 30) remains on the card holder 22and a portion of the security code (e.g., bar code 30) remains on thetransaction card 10. In a broken and separated state as shown in FIG.1C, each portion 23 and 25 of bar code 30 is inoperable by itself toscan and activate the transaction card at a point of sale terminal.However, the portions 23 and 25, provided that they are from the samebar code 30, may be recombined and form an operable bar code 30. Incontrast, if the portions 23 and 25 are not from the same bar code, forexample where a thief attempts to fraudulent swap cards, a combinationof disparate or mismatched portions will not form an operable bar code30. Furthermore, such an attempt may provide a visual and/or tactileindication of possible fraudulent activity. For example, as shown in aclose-up view of FIG. 1D, the portions 23 and 25 of the security codemay display a readily identifiable mismatch upon visual inspection.

Alternative types of security codes may provide mismatches that are morereadily identifiable than with a bar code. Examples of alternativesecurity codes include but are not limited to second embodiment of atransaction card package assembly 20 having an alpha numeric securitycode 46 (provided that each such alpha numeric code is unique) as shownin the back view of FIG. 2B and a third embodiment of a transaction cardpackage assembly 20 having a graphical security code 48 (provided thateach such graphic is unique) as shown in the back view of FIG. 3B.

A fourth embodiment of a transaction card package assembly 20 is shownin the front view of FIG. 4A and the back view of FIG. 4B. The fourthembodiment is similar to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1Bas described previously, and in FIG. 4 the panel 22 has been increasedin size, and more specifically increased in width W. The additionalsurface area of panel 22 may be useful as space for printingadvertising, information, instructions, legal notices, and the like. Thewidth W may also be adjusted as desired to provide overall dimensionsfor package assembly 20 suitable for use in various display racks. Panel22 may also include an opening 24 such as a “sombrero” shaped apertureor cut-out suitable for receiving a shelf or rack rod and hanging thepackage assembly 20 from a display rack in a retail store. Panel 22 mayalso include a bar code 18, which may provide three unique identifiersand forming a hybrid package assembly capable of either one-step ortwo-step activation, as is described in more detail in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/380,838, filed Apr. 28, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No.7,607,574, and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Any ofthe embodiments disclosed herein may be further modified to includethree unique identifiers and thereby form hybrid package assemblies asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,607,574. In such a hybrid package assembly20 as shown in FIG. 4, breaking the security code 30 disables theone-step activation, but two step activation by scanning bar code 18 andswiping transaction card 10 is still functional.

A fifth embodiment of a transaction card package assembly 20 is shown inthe front view of FIG. 5A and the back view of FIG. 5B. The fifthembodiment does not contain a security code as described herein, as barcode 30 does not span interface 17. Instead, bar code 30 is containedentirely within panel 22. The transaction card 10 may contain a magneticstripe 32, an issuer bar code 41, or both (as shown). In an embodiment,the issuer bar code 41 is a UCC-12 bar code. In an embodiment, the barcode 30 is an EAN/UCC-128 bar code, containing both a vendor productidentification portion and an issuer account portion, that may be usedto activate the card via a one-step process. The magnetic stripe 32, theissuer bar code 41, or both (as shown) my contain a corresponding issueraccount code such that the activated transaction card may be used at theissuer's place of business to conduct transactions such as the purchaseof goods.

Preferably, the retaining means 17 is a snap and break connectionbetween a plastic transaction card 10 and panel 22 or a perforatedconnection between paper or cardboard transaction card 10 and panel 22.The length L₁ of panel 22 may be greater than, less than, or preferablyabout equal to (as shown) the length L₁ of the transaction card 10.Likewise, the width W₁ of panel 22 may be greater than, equal to, orpreferably less than (as shown) the width W₂ of the transaction card 10.In an embodiment, W₁ is less than about ¾ of W₂, alternatively W₁ isless than about ½ of W₂, alternatively W₁ is about ⅓ of W₂. In anembodiment, the length L₁ of panel 22 and transaction card 10 is about3⅜ inches, the width W₁ of the panel 22 is about ¾ inch, and the widthW₂ of the transaction card 10 is about 2⅛ inches.

A sixth embodiment of a transaction card package assembly 20 is shown inthe front view of FIG. 6A and the back view of FIG. 6B. The sixthembodiment comprises the fifth embodiment of FIG. 5 attached/affixed ona rack hanger 50. The rack hanger 50 may comprise a panel (as shown), afolding card having two or more panels, an envelope having two or morepanels, or combinations thereof. The panel 22 is attached to the rackhanger 50 by attachment means 52 such as adhesive, tacks, staples,rivets, or combinations thereof. The attachment means 52 holds the panel22 firmly in contact with rack hanger 50 such that the transaction card10 may be removed from the panel 22 and rack hanger 50, for example bysnapping and breaking the interface 17 or tearing a perforated interface17. Transaction card 10 typically is not attached directly to the rackhanger 50 (except via panel 22), which aids in the removal of card 10from the remainder of package assembly 20, aids in the activation of thetransaction card via a two-step process, or aids in both.

The rack hanger 50 further comprises an opening 24 and window 26.Opening 24 may be a “sombrero” shaped aperture or cut-out suitable forhanging the package assembly 20 from a rod in a display rack or shelf ina retail store. The window 26 may be an aperture or cut-out, oralternatively may be a transparent portion such as a cut-out covered bya clear film. In the back view shown in FIG. 6B, the position of card 10and panel 22 is indicated by dashed line 28. As is shown in FIG. 6B, thepanel 22 is positioned and attached via attachment means 52 to rackhanger 50 such that a bar code 30 located on the back of panel 22 isvisible through window 26. In an embodiment, bar code 30 is anEAN/UCC-128 bar code containing both a vendor product identificationportion and an issuer account portion encoded thereon. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 6B, the issuer bar code 41 is obscured from view by therack hanger 50.

The length L₂ of rack hanger 50 may be less than, equal to, orpreferably greater than (as shown) the length L₁ of the transaction card10 and panel 22. Likewise, the width W₃ of rack hanger 50 may be lessthan, equal to, or preferably greater than (as shown) the combined widthW₁+W₂ of the transaction card 10 and panel 22. In an embodiment, thelength L₁ of panel 22 and transaction card 10 is about 3⅜ inches, thewidth W₁ of the panel 22 is about ¾ inch, the width W₂ of thetransaction card 10 is about 2⅛ inches, the length L₂ of rack hanger 50is about 4 inches and the width W₃ of rack hanger 50 is about 5¼ inches.

In an alternative embodiment of FIG. 6, the rack hanger 50 may furthercomprise a bar code, for example an EAN/UCC-12 bar code, containing avendor product identification code, such as bar code 18 shown in FIG.4B. The bar code 18 may be located on the front of rack hanger 50, onthe back of rack hanger 50 (as shown in FIG. 4), or both. In anembodiment, the bar code 18 is positioned on an upper portion 16 of therack hanger 50, for example in an upper corner of rack hanger 50adjacent the opening 24. Positioning the bar code 18 on the upperportion 16 of the rack hanger 50 distances the bar code 18 from otherbar codes that may be present elsewhere on the package assembly (e.g.,bar code 30), and may thereby aid in the scanning of the bar codes. Thecard 10 further comprises a magnetic stripe 32, which is accessible forswiping at a point of sale terminal. For example, a lower portion 34 ofthe rack hanger 50 may be folded back such that the magnetic stripe maybe swiped through a magnetic stripe reader at the point of saleterminal. In an alternative embodiment, the rack hanger 50 contains amagnetic stripe, for example located on the lower portion 34 of rackhanger 50. The card 10 may also have a magnetic stripe 32, wherein themagnetic stripe on the rack hanger 50 and the magnetic stripe 32 on thecard 10 each contain the same issuer account code. In addition to or inlieu of the magnetic stripe 32, the card 10 may have a issuer bar code41, wherein the issuer bar code 41 and the magnetic stripe on the rackhanger 50 each contain the same issuer account code. The presence of barcode 18, bar code 30, and magnetic stripe 32 may result in a hybridpackage assembly, as is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No.7,607,574, which may be activated by either a one-step or two-stepactivation process.

The transaction card 10 may be folded and/or pulled forward away fromthe rack hanger 50, thereby snapping and breaking the interface 17 toremove the card from the package assembly 20. Alternatively, thetransaction card 10 may be folded and/or pulled forward away from therack hanger 50, thereby tearing the perforated interface 17 to removethe card from the package assembly 20. Upon removal of the card, theupper half of the snap and break or perforated connection, i.e., panel22, remains affixed to the rack hanger 50. After activation of thetransaction card 10 and removal of the card from the package assembly20, the remainder of the package assembly may be discarded.

In alternative embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6, a security code may spanbetween the card 10 and the panel 22 as described previously, forexample as shown in FIGS. 1-4. In an embodiment the security code is allor a portion of bar code 30. For example, the numeric sequence below barcode 30 might span the interface and provide the security code, whilethe vertical lines representing the bar code remain above the interface17. In an alternative embodiment, a security code is placed below barcode 30, for example a unique alphanumeric sequence or graphical designthat is independent from bar code 30.

A seventh embodiment of a transaction card package assembly 20 is shownin the front view of FIG. 7A and the back view of FIG. 7B. The seventhembodiment is similar to the first embodiment and further comprising asecond retaining means 51 and a second panel 53. In an embodiment, thesecond retaining means 51 defines a second interface 57, for example ascore or break line in a snap and break connection between thetransaction card 10 and the second panel 53. The second panel 53 furthercomprises a second magnetic stripe 55, wherein the magnetic stripe 55 isseparate and distinct from the magnetic stripe 32. For example, themagnetic stripe 55 may comprise the issuer account code such that uponactivation the card may be used at a redeeming merchant. In contrast,the magnetic stripe 55 may contain may contain an activation code thatis indexed to the issuer account code contained in magnetic stripe 32 onthe card 10. Thus, to activate the card, the activation code on magneticstripe 55 is read at a point of sale, and the activation code is used tocross-reference and activate the issuer account on card 10. Uponactivation, the panels 22 and 53 may be removed from the card, forexample via snapping and breaking along the interfaces 17 and 57,respectively. In an alternative embodiment, the panel 22 may be sized asdescribed previously, and may further comprise an opening 24, forexample as is shown in FIG. 4.

The use of an activation code on magnetic stripe 55 may help to preventa fraudulent activity known as skimming, wherein the issuer account codeis read from the magnetic stripe 32 on the card (for example with ahandheld magnetic stripe reader) and a duplicate, fraudulent card isproduced having the same issuer account code. Upon activation of thecard 10 by an unsuspecting customer, the fraudulent duplicate card islikewise activated and can be used by a thief. In addition to providinga useless activation code upon being skimmed (rather than the actualissuer account code), the second panel 53 further provides a physicalbarrier that prevents swiping of the bar code 32 on the card 10, andthereby provides an additional protection again skimming. For example,the width W₄ of the panel 53 may be selected such that the bar code 32on card 10 is positioned above the normal slot depth of a magnetic cardreader, and thus cannot be easily swiped by such readers in an effort toskim the card. In an embodiment, the width W₄ is greater than about ½inch, alternatively greater than about ¾ inch, alternatively greaterthan about 1 inch.

An eighth embodiment of a transaction card package assembly 20 is shownin the front view of FIG. 8A and the back view of FIG. 8B. The eighthembodiment comprises the seventh embodiment of FIG. 7 attached affixedon a rack hanger 50. The rack hanger 50 may comprise a panel (as shown),a folding card having two or more panels, an envelope having two or morepanels, or combinations thereof. The panel 22 is attached to the rackhanger 50 by attachment means 52A such as adhesive, tacks, staples,rivets, or combinations thereof. The attachment means 52A holds thepanel 22 firmly in contact with rack hanger 50 such that the transactioncard 10 may be removed from the panel 22 and rack hanger 50, for exampleby snapping and breaking the interface 17 or tearing a perforatedinterface 17. Transaction card 10 may optionally be attached to the rackhanger 50 via a second attachment means 52B, as will be discussed inmore detail below.

The rack hanger 50 further comprises an opening 24 and window 26.Opening 24 may be a “sombrero” shaped aperture or cut-out suitable forhanging the package assembly 20 from a rod in a display rack or shelf ina retail store. The window 26 may be an aperture or cut-out, oralternatively may be a transparent portion such as a cut-out covered bya clear film. In the back view shown in FIG. 8B, the position of card 10and panel 22 is indicated by dashed line 28. As is shown in FIG. 8B, thepanel 22 is positioned and attached via attachment means 52A to rackhanger 50 such that a bar code 30 located on the back of panel 22 isvisible through window 26. In an embodiment, bar code 30 is anEAN/UCC-128 bar code containing both a vendor product identificationportion and an issuer account portion encoded thereon.

In an alternative embodiment of FIG. 8, the rack hanger 50 may furthercomprise a bar code, for example an EAN/UCC-12 bar code, containing avendor product identification code, such as bar code 18 shown in FIG.4B. The bar code 18 may be located on the front of rack hanger 50, onthe back of rack hanger 50, or both. In an embodiment, the bar code 18is positioned on an upper portion 16 of the rack hanger 50, for examplein an upper corner of rack hanger 50 adjacent the opening 24.Positioning the bar code 18 on the upper portion 16 of the rack hanger50 distances the bar code 18 from other bar codes that may be presentelsewhere on the package assembly (e.g., bar code 30), and may therebyaid in the scanning of the bar codes. The second panel 53 furthercomprises a magnetic stripe 55, which is accessible for swiping at apoint of sale terminal. For example, a lower portion 34 of the rackhanger 50 may be folded back such that the magnetic stripe 55 may beswiped through a magnetic stripe reader at the point of sale terminal.An optional second attachment means 52B may be disposed between the card10 and the rack hanger 50 to aid in positioning of the card or to helpprevent fraud by making the magnetic stripe 32 on card 10 inaccessiblewhile allowing access to magnetic stripe 55 for activation at a point ofsale. The card 10 may also have a magnetic stripe 32, wherein themagnetic stripe 55 on the second panel 53 contains an activation code toactivate an issuer account contained within the magnetic stripe 32, asdiscussed previously. In addition to or in lieu of the magnetic stripe32, the card 10 may have an issuer bar code 41, wherein the issuer barcode 41 and the magnetic stripe on the rack hanger 50 each contain thesame issuer account code, which are activated via the activation code inmagnetic stripe 55. The presence of bar code 18, bar code 30, andmagnetic stripes 32 and 55 may result in a hybrid package assembly, asis described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,607,574, which may beactivated by either a one-step or two-step activation process.

The transaction card 10 may be folded and/or pulled forward away fromthe rack hanger 50, thereby snapping and breaking the interface 17 toremove the card from the package assembly 20. Alternatively, thetransaction card 10 may be folded and/or pulled forward away from therack hanger 50, thereby tearing the perforated interface 17 to removethe card from the package assembly 20. Upon removal of the card, theupper half of the snap and break or perforated connection, i.e., panel22, remains affixed to the rack hanger 50. Likewise, lower panel 53 maybe removed from the card before or after removal of the card from panel22, for example via snapping and breaking along the interface 57. Afteractivation of the transaction card 10 and removal of the card from thepackage assembly 20, the remainder of the package assembly may bediscarded.

Package assembly embodiments as described herein may be manufacturedaccording to various methods known in the art. For example, transactioncards and card holders can be manufactured and printed and subsequentlyplaced in a printed rack hanger, or alternatively the transaction cardand card holder can be made concurrently, for example via coextrusion ofa plastic sheet with subsequent printing and placed in a printed rackhanger. Where made of a plastic or polymer, the type of material may beselected to provide appropriate functional characteristics such asprintability, gloss, the ability to snap and break along a score, etc.In an embodiment, an existing transaction card 10 is retrofittedconnecting the card 10 with panel 22 using a retaining means 15, andoptionally subsequently attaching the card 10 and panel 22 to a rackhanger via attachment means 52. In some embodiment, security codes maybe applied to prefabricated package assemblies via stickers spanning thetransaction card and the card holder. Alternative methods of making thevarious embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilledin the art.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and teachings of the invention. Theembodiments described herein are exemplary only, and are not intended tobe limiting. Many variations and modifications of the inventiondisclosed herein are possible and are within the scope of the invention.Where numerical ranges or limitations are expressly stated, such expressranges or limitations should be understood to include iterative rangesor limitations of like magnitude falling within the expressly statedranges or limitations (e.g., from about 1 to about 10 includes, 2, 3, 4,etc.; greater than 0.10 includes 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, etc.). Use of theterm “optionally” with respect to any element of a claim is intended tomean that the subject element is required, or alternatively, is notrequired. Both alternatives are intended to be within the scope of theclaim. Use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, having, etc.should be understood to provide support for narrower terms such asconsisting of, consisting essentially of, comprised substantially of,etc.

Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by the descriptionset out above but is only limited by the claims which follow, that scopeincluding all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Each andevery claim is incorporated into the specification as an embodiment ofthe present invention. Thus, the claims are a further description andare an addition to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.The discussion of a reference in the Description of Related Art is notan admission that it is prior art to the present invention, especiallyany reference that may have a publication date after the priority dateof this application. The disclosures of all patents, patentapplications, and publications cited herein are hereby incorporated byreference, to the extent that they provide exemplary, procedural orother details supplementary to those set forth herein.

1. A transaction card package assembly comprising: a transaction cardconnected to a first panel via a first releasable interface, wherein thefirst panel is affixed to a second panel such that upon releasing theinterface, the first panel remains affixed to the second panel and thetransaction card is released from the package assembly; a third panelconnected to the transaction card via a second releasable interface; andat least three unique identifiers thereon such that the transaction cardmay be activated at a point of sale by either a one-step or two-stepactivation process.
 2. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein at leastone identifier is present on the transaction card or first panel and isvisible through a window in the second panel.
 3. The package assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the three unique identifiers comprise a vendor productidentification code contained an EAN/UCC-12 bar code, an issuer accountcode contained in a magnetic stripe or an issuer bar code, and acombination vendor product identification and issuer account codecontained in an EAN/UCC-128 bar code.
 4. The package assembly of claim 1wherein the first panel comprises an EAN/UCC-128 bar code and thetransaction card comprises a magnetic stripe, an issuer bar code, orboth.
 5. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the third panel furthercomprises a magnetic stripe.
 6. The package assembly of claim 5 whereinthe magnetic stripe on the third panel contains an activation code foractivating an account associated with the transaction card, wherein theactivation code is not the same as the account number.
 7. The packageassembly of claim 1 wherein the first releasable interface is a snap andbreak interface.
 8. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the secondreleasable interface is a snap and break interface.
 9. The packageassembly of claim 1 wherein the first releasable interface is aperforated interface.
 10. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein thesecond releasable interface is a perforated interface.
 11. The packageassembly of claim 1 wherein the transaction card and the first panelcomprise a molded sheet of plastic and the interface is a score or breakline there between.
 12. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein thetransaction card and the first panel comprise a rigid paper or cardboardand the interface is a series of perforations there between.
 13. Thepackage assembly of claim 1 wherein the second panel is a rack hangerhaving an opening for receipt of a rack or shelf rod.
 14. The packageassembly of claim 1 wherein a width of the first panel is less than halfa width of the transaction card.
 15. The package assembly of claim 14wherein a length and width of the rack hanger is greater than a lengthand width of the transaction card affixed to the first panel.
 16. Thepackage assembly of claim 13 further comprising a window such thatinformation on the back of the transaction card, the first panel, orboth is visible from the back of the rack hanger.
 17. The packageassembly of claim 16 wherein an EAN/UCC-128 bar code is located on theback of the first panel and is visible through the window.
 18. Thepackage assembly of claim 17 wherein the EAN/UCC-128 bar code spans theinterface between the transaction card and the first panel, therebyproviding a security code for the package assembly.
 19. The packageassembly of claim 17 wherein a numeric portion of the EAN/UCC-128 barcode spans the interface between the transaction card and the firstpanel, thereby providing a security code for the package assembly. 20.The package assembly of claim 1 further comprising a security codespanning the transaction card and the card holder such that upon removalof the transaction card from the card holder, the security code isbroken and a portion of the security code is present on the transactioncard and a portion of the security code is present on the card holder.21. The package assembly of claim 20 wherein the security code is aunique sequence of letters, numbers, characters, symbols, pictures,designs, graphics, or combinations thereof.
 22. The package assembly ofclaim 20 wherein the broken security code provides a visual indicationof potentially fraudulent activity.
 23. The package assembly of claim 20wherein the broken security code provides a tactile indication ofpotentially fraudulent activity.
 24. A transaction card package assemblycomprising: a transaction card connected to a first panel via a firstreleasable interface, wherein the first panel is affixed to a secondpanel such that upon releasing the interface, the first panel remainsaffixed to the second panel and the transaction card is released fromthe package assembly; and a third panel connected to the transactioncard via a second releasable interface.
 25. The package assembly ofclaim 24 wherein the third panel further comprises a magnetic stripe.26. The package assembly of claim 25 wherein the magnetic stripe on thethird panel contains an activation code for activating an accountassociated with the transaction card, wherein the activation code is notthe same as the account number.
 27. The package assembly of claim 24wherein the first releasable interface is a snap and break interface.28. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the second releasableinterface is a snap and break interface.
 29. The package assembly ofclaim 24 wherein the first releasable interface is a perforatedinterface.
 30. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the secondreleasable interface is a perforated interface.
 31. The package assemblyof claim 24 wherein the transaction card and the first panel comprise amolded sheet of plastic and the interface is a score or break line therebetween.
 32. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the transactioncard and the first panel comprise a rigid paper or cardboard and theinterface is a series of perforations there between.
 33. The packageassembly of claim 24 wherein the second panel is a rack hanger having anopening for receipt of a rack or shelf rod.
 34. The package assembly ofclaim 24 wherein a width of the first panel is less than half a width ofthe transaction card.
 35. The package assembly of claim 33 wherein alength and width of the rack hanger is greater than a length and widthof the transaction card affixed to the first panel.
 36. The packageassembly of claim 33 further comprising a window such that informationon the back of the transaction card, the first panel, or both is visiblefrom the back of the rack hanger.
 37. The package assembly of claim 36wherein an EAN/UCC-128 bar code is located on the back of the firstpanel and is visible through the window.
 38. The package assembly ofclaim 37 wherein the EAN/UCC-128 bar code spans the interface betweenthe transaction card and the first panel, thereby providing a securitycode for the package assembly.
 39. The package assembly of claim 38wherein a numeric portion of the EAN/UCC-128 bar code spans theinterface between the transaction card and the first panel, therebyproviding a security code for the package assembly.
 40. The packageassembly of claim 24 further comprising a security code spanning thetransaction card and the card holder such that upon removal of thetransaction card from the card holder, the security code is broken and aportion of the security code is present on the transaction card and aportion of the security code is present on the card holder.
 41. Thepackage assembly of claim 40 wherein the security code is a uniquesequence of letters, numbers, characters, symbols, pictures, designs,graphics, or combinations thereof.
 42. The package assembly of claim 40wherein the broken security code provides a visual indication ofpotentially fraudulent activity.
 43. The package assembly of claim 40wherein the broken security code provides a tactile indication ofpotentially fraudulent activity.
 44. The package assembly of claim 24further comprising at least three unique identifiers thereon such thatthe transaction card may be activated at a point of sale by either aone-step or two-step activation process.
 45. The package assembly ofclaim 44 wherein at least one identifier is present on the transactioncard or first panel and is visible through a window in the second panel.46. The package assembly of claim 45 wherein the three uniqueidentifiers comprise a vendor product identification code contained anEAN/UCC-12 bar code, an issuer account code contained in a magneticstripe or an issuer bar code, and a combination vendor productidentification and issuer account code contained in an EAN/UCC-128 barcode.
 47. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the first panelcomprises an EAN/UCC-128 bar code and the transaction card comprises amagnetic stripe, an issuer bar code, or both.
 48. A transaction cardpackage assembly comprising: a transaction card connected to a firstpanel via a first releasable interface, wherein a width of the firstpanel is less than half a width of the transaction card, and wherein thefirst panel is affixed to a second panel such that upon releasing theinterface, the first panel remains affixed to the second panel and thetransaction card is released from the package assembly; and a thirdpanel connected to the transaction card via a second releasableinterface.
 49. The package assembly of claim 48 further comprising asecurity code spanning the transaction card and the card holder suchthat upon removal of the transaction card from the card holder, thesecurity code is broken and a portion of the security code is present onthe transaction card and a portion of the security code is present onthe card holder.
 50. The package assembly of claim 49 wherein the brokensecurity code provides a tactile indication of potentially fraudulentactivity.
 51. The package assembly of claim 48 further comprising atleast three unique identifiers thereon such that the transaction cardmay be activated at a point of sale by either a one-step or two-stepactivation process.
 52. The package assembly of claim 51 wherein atleast one identifier is present on the transaction card or first paneland is visible through a window in the second panel.
 53. The packageassembly of claim 52 wherein the three unique identifiers comprise avendor product identification code contained an EAN/UCC-12 bar code, anissuer account code contained in a magnetic stripe or an issuer barcode, and a combination vendor product identification and issuer accountcode contained in an EAN/UCC-128 bar code.
 54. The package assembly ofclaim 48 wherein the third panel further comprises a magnetic stripe.55. The package assembly of claim 53 wherein the magnetic stripe on thethird panel contains an activation code for activating an accountassociated with the transaction card, wherein the activation code is notthe same as the account number.